The show, which traces its beginnings back 160 years, was cancelled initially when the A&P Association announced it was in financial trouble. A downscaled event was salvaged by a new-look board, a $5million council bail-out and arrival of events management company Event Hire.
Organisers rebuilding the town-meets-country event have been rewarded, it having received Royal A&P Show status for the first time since 2010.
The three-day fixture will again start on a Thursday (November 13) and run through to Saturday to make it easier for city families and out-of-towners to attend.
Chairman Sir David Carter said the show was in a much better position.
"We made a really credible effort to put on show 2024 in a very limited timeframe and those that attended saw that and that’s given us now some credibility and authenticity, so we have been making show 2025 more or less for the last 12 months and it has come together nicely."
He said livestock exhibitors for all three days were up on 2023 and 2024, driven by the Royal A&P Show status.
Stud breeders liked the prestige of winning a Royal Show ribbon, he said.
"We have 385 dairy cattle entries, which is probably as high as we’ve ever had, about 300 beef entries, so that’s good and over 700 sheep entries. So we have restored our credibility with livestock exhibitors."
The buoyancy from high farming returns in dairy, sheep and beef had given hope for the future and likely assisted with the larger exhibitor base. Stud breeders had stepped up and it would be good to have farmers also show support as it was an occasion for them to catch up with old mates, he said.
"It was pretty grim last year when we were getting $100 a lamb and now it’s very easy to get $200 a lamb and dairy prices over $10 gives a lot of confidence to farmers. The other reason for success is the way the board and the committee have worked so well together. It was a matter of moving forward and burying the differences of the past and everyone working to have a successful show."
The 400 trade sites were on budget.
"We want to see them back and Farmlands I think are conspicuously absent and that’s a pity. Farmers expect some loyalty from these companies and Farmlands not being there they will see Rural Co be there in quite a significant way and farmers notice that. Farmer shareholders in Alliance will know they support the Wanaka show and yet they are saying they weren’t able to support the Canterbury A&P Show this year. I certainly hope that they come back next year."
He said holding the show again from Thursday to Saturday gave them two cracks at a public holiday to greatly improve the chance of full gate attendances and running profitably in the event one day was wet.
Last year the board was overhauled, the Christchurch City Council injecting $5 million on the condition the association repay a $1m existing council loan and surrender the rest of a 100-year lease for Canterbury Agricultural Park.
The remaining $4m went to a capital-protected charitable investment trust.
Sir David said the board was able to call on regular income from the trust fund without touching the capital, but wanted to get into a position that it became a "rainy day" fund.
The city council had promised to support the show for two years and the board had provided an assurance further support would not be needed as the show became economically sound, he said.
He said it was satisfying the event was closer to a firm footing as a result of people prepared to work together to get the best result.
The popular City Farmyard for children to get up close to young animals will be a drawcard again with attractions to include the Wool Zone, showcasing wool with its own marquee this year and more than 30 trade sites.
The Grand Parade will be on Friday and Saturday with all youth competitions staged on Saturday morning.
A South Island versus New South Wales test match is a new addition over the three days in the woodchopping and also new is a Cowboy Challenge competition for horse and rider completing a series of tasks, to be held indoors along with a farrier competition.
Organisers have taken steps to streamline incoming traffic.
